Catheter for thermal evaluation of arteriosclerotic plaque
First Claim
1. A device for sensing temperature remotely at an area of interest of an interior surface of a fluid passageway in a human body and registering the temperature on an external temperature monitor, the device comprising:
- a wire lead configured for insertion into the passageway, the wire lead having sufficient lateral flexibility for sliding movement through the passageway;
a thermocouple disposed on the wire lead and configured to be connected to the temperature monitor;
wherein the wire lead is provided with sufficient longitudinal rigidity that a translational force applied to the wire lead is transmitted forward for sliding motion of the wire lead along the passageway to bring the thermocouple to the area of interest and the wire lead biases the thermocouple into contact with the area of interest of the interior surface of the fluid passageway.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for percutaneous insertion into a fluid passageway of a human body, such as an artery is provided with one or more thermocouples disposed on a flexible, resilient wire lead and coupled to a temperature monitor. The wire lead includes a distal portion formed in a single, oval, looped shape or a double, ovoid or basket-like, looped shape with the thermocouples disposed on a side or tip of the shape. The wire lead is configured, e.g., by insertion in a guidewire, for slidable movement through the artery to an area of interest, e.g., at a buildup of arteriosclerotic plaque, on an inner surface of the artery, to bring the thermocouple into resiliently biased contact with the inner surface at the area of interest for measurement of the temperature there.
216 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for sensing temperature remotely at an area of interest of an interior surface of a fluid passageway in a human body and registering the temperature on an external temperature monitor, the device comprising:
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a wire lead configured for insertion into the passageway, the wire lead having sufficient lateral flexibility for sliding movement through the passageway;
a thermocouple disposed on the wire lead and configured to be connected to the temperature monitor;
wherein the wire lead is provided with sufficient longitudinal rigidity that a translational force applied to the wire lead is transmitted forward for sliding motion of the wire lead along the passageway to bring the thermocouple to the area of interest and the wire lead biases the thermocouple into contact with the area of interest of the interior surface of the fluid passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A device for sensing temperature remotely at an area of interest of an interior surface of a fluid passageway in a human body and registering the temperature on an external temperature monitor, the device comprising:
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a wire lead configured for insertion into the passageway, the wire lead defining a central longitudinal axis, the wire lead having sufficient lateral flexibility for sliding movement through the passageway;
a thermocouple disposed on the wire lead and configured to be connected to the temperature monitor;
wherein the wire lead is provided with sufficient longitudinal rigidity that a translational force applied to the wire lead is transmitted forward for sliding motion of the wire lead along the passageway to bring the thermocouple to the area of interest and the wire lead biases the thermocouple in a radially outward direction from the central axis for measurement of the temperature at the area of interest of the interior surface of the fluid passageway. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for insertion into a passageway to sense temperature remotely within the passageway and register the temperature on an external temperature monitor, the device comprising:
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a guidewire configured for insertion into the passageway and sliding movement along the passageway, the guidewire having sufficient lateral flexibility for movement through the passageway and sufficient longitudinal rigidity that a translational force applied to the guidewire is transmitted forward for sliding motion of the guidewire along the passageway, the guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, and an outer surface extending between the ends, the outer surface defining at the distal end an outer diameter;
a wire lead coupled to the guidewire for movement along the passageway; and
a thermocouple disposed adjacent the distal end of the guidewire and radially outside of the outer diameter of the guidewire, the thermocouple configured to be connected to the temperature monitor via the wire lead. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A device for sensing temperature remotely at an area of interest within a fluid passageway in a human body and registering the temperature on an external temperature monitor, the device comprising:
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a wire lead configured for insertion into the passageway, the wire lead having sufficient lateral flexibility for sliding movement through the passageway, the wire lead including a distal portion formed in a looped shape;
a thermocouple disposed on the wire lead and configured to be connected to the temperature monitor;
wherein the wire lead is provided with sufficient longitudinal rigidity that a translational force applied to the wire lead is transmitted forward for sliding motion of the wire lead along the passageway to bring the thermocouple to the area of interest and the distal portion of the wire lead is formed of a resilient material that flexes when the thermocouple is brought into contact with the area of interest.
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Specification